The 2024 event, partly sponsored by TikTok, the social media titan, faces uncertainty amid recent developments, contrasting with the challenges faced by Condé Nast, the publisher behind Vogue, The New Yorker, and other publications, which has undergone layoffs and closures in recent years.
TikTok found itself in a precarious position last month when President Biden signed a bill requiring ByteDance, its Chinese parent company, to divest the app within nine months or face a ban in the United States.
Despite this political turmoil, Shou Chew, TikTok’s 41-year-old CEO, is expected to attend the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute benefit alongside numerous celebrities on Monday evening.
Chew was handpicked by Anna Wintour as an honorary chair for the event, which annually raises substantial funds for the museum.
Wintour, a prominent figure at Condé Nast and Vogue, has orchestrated the event for twenty-five years, leveraging her connections in celebrity and fashion circles to create a high-profile gathering featuring influential individuals, including an increasing number of social media influencers and fewer traditional A-list stars.
Despite TikTok facing scrutiny from Washington lawmakers over potential Chinese government access to its 170 million US users, the platform remains a significant cultural and fashion influence, particularly among Generation Z.
The Met Gala provides ample content for TikTok creators, elevating Chew’s influence to a level comparable to this year’s more recognizable co-chairs, including Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, Chris Hemsworth, and Wintour herself.
Loewe, a luxury fashion brand, also sponsors the event, with its creative director, Jonathan Anderson, joining Chew as an honorary chair. While TikTok declined to disclose its financial contribution, past sponsors have reportedly provided approximately $5 million.
Unlike Jeff Bezos and Tim Cook, who were familiar faces at previous Met Galas, Chew is likely to go unnoticed by many onlookers lining Fifth Avenue, possibly even as they film TikTok videos on their phones.
